Visit St. Mary’s This Summer!

Starting the week of July 27, 2020 visitors are free to drop-in anytime during opening hours (Tuesdays & Thursdays 1-4pm) to safely tour the venue and learn about its colourful history. You’ll hear the story of the church that was made for music: how it was designed to resemble the interior of a violin, how it slowly fell into disrepair, and how it was eventually saved by a dedicated group of music-lovers.

Designated an official Canadian Heritage site in 2012 in recognition of its cultural and historical significance to Prince Edward Island, St. Mary’s was constructed in 1900 by architect William Critchlow Harris. An amateur musician, Harris was intimately concerned with the acoustic capabilities of this new church he was designing. He soon dreamt up an idea that would revolutionize venue acoustics to this day: what if the inside of a church could operate like the inside of a musical instrument?

If you’ve never been fortunate enough to attend a concert at Historic St. Mary’s, you’re in luck: we’ll be playing music on our custom, state-of-the-art sound system graciously funded by the Confederation Bridge so you can experience the venue’s iconic acoustics for yourself. Even if history isn’t your thing, dropping by just to hear the church that was made for music is worth the drive!

Indian River Festival is committed to keeping our visitors safe. Social distancing measures and safety protocols are in place at the venue.